FAQ

General Questions about The Partnership for New Communities

What does The Partnership do?
Why was The Partnership formed?
When was The Partnership formed?
Where does The Partnership focus its work?
What is The Partnership's niche?
Who founded The Partnership?
How will you know if The Partnership is successful?
What is the process for applying for a grant?
For what does The Partnership NOT provide grants/support?
Are you part of Local Initiative Support Corporation’s (LISC/Chicago) New Communities Program (NCP)?

What does The Partnership do?
The Partnership’s activities promote economic revitalization of neighborhoods and economic opportunity for people.

The Partnership is a fund created by leading civic institutions to support the success of the Plan for Transformation of public housing. The Partnership solicits funds and invests them in economic development, community building and employment-related initiatives to bring about large-scale improvements to the neighborhoods most affected by public-housing transformation.

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Why was The Partnership formed?
The Partnership brings Chicago’s corporate, philanthropic and civic leaders together to ensure that:

• Chicago takes advantage of the opportunities created by public housing transformation.
• Neighborhoods undergoing transformation develop healthy, sustainable economies that contribute to the city’s overall strength.
• Opportunities for residents are maximized as neighborhoods change and grow stronger.

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When was The Partnership formed?
The Partnership was formally established in 2001.

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Where does The Partnership focus its work?
The Partnership’s particular focus is the new mixed-income developments being created as part of Chicago's Plan for Transformation. While our workforce development investments support all of the city’s public-housing residents, our Neighborhood Development strategy centers on the mixed-income developments and surrounding communities – namely on the Near West, Near North and Mid-South Sides of Chicago. View map

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What is The Partnership's niche?
The Partnership is dedicated to ensuring that public-housing transformation is successful in Chicago. Our role is to catalyze the involvement of business and other major civic organizations in contributing to the vitality of those neighborhoods most affected by public-housing transformation. No other organization is focused on that mission.

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Who founded The Partnership?
The Partnership was established by Chicago's business and civic leaders, including the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation and The Chicago Community Trust, where it is structured as a donor advised fund of the Chicago Community Foundation.

A 15-member Advisory Committee governs The Partnership and makes grant recommendations. Lewis Jordan, CEO of the Chicago Housing Authority, is an active ex-officio member of the Committee to help ensure The Partnership's initiatives are well coordinated with ongoing development activities.

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How will you know if The Partnership is successful?

The Partnership was always intended to be a time-limited entity working in tandem with the Plan for Transformation. Today Chicago is well on its way with the Plan, Neighborhoods are improving, and residents are making strides with employment and earnings. As of April 2011, about 80 percent of the public-housing units slated for construction or rehabilitation have been completed. In an encouraging move in Spring 2011, The Partnership announced a sunset of the organization that will conclude in Spring 2012.

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What is the process for applying for a grant?

As of Spring 2011, The Partnership is no longer accepting new grant applications. Learn more here.

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For what does The Partnership NOT provide grants/support?

• Ongoing operational expenses
• For-profit organizations
• Individuals
• Political parties or candidates
• Advertising journals, booklets
• Endowment campaigns
• Scholarships, student loans
• Fundraising events
• Athletic events

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Are you part of Local Initiative Support Corporation’s (LISC/Chicago) New Communities Program (NCP)?
No. We collaborate with LISC/Chicago and its NCP program, but The Partnership is an entirely different organization.

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